Expressnews
Honda Cars India Ltd., leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, today unveiled its much awaited New City e:HEV, India’s Supreme Electric Hybrid. Releasing the technical details of the new City e:HEV , the company reiterated its global vison to realize carbon neutrality and zero collision fatalities by 2050.
Developed under the concept of “Ambitious Sedan”, the City e:HEV comes with Advanced hybrid driving technology andembodies supremacy in its every detail, ranging from its style, performance, space, comfort, connectivity and safety. The e:HEV technology supports real driving performance while achieving amazing fuel economy and low emissions.
The New City e:HEV features Honda’s unique self-charging and highly efficient Two motor e-CVT hybrid systemconnected to a smooth 1.5-litre Atkinson-Cycle DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine, Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) with advanced Lithium-ion Battery and an Engine linked direct coupling Clutch. The e:HEV electric-hybrid system uses three driving modes – EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive, along with Regeneration mode during deceleration. A clever Power Control Unit ensures harmony between the various system components to provide an energetic response, seamlessly and automatically switching between three modes based on various driving situations.
| EV Drive Mode | Driven exclusively by motor using battery for a silent & zero emission drive |
| Hybrid Drive Mode | Electric Motors power the wheels with the petrol engine acting as an electrical generator |
| Engine Drive Mode | Engine runs at high fuel efficiency to directly drive the wheels. Also the motor provides a peak power boost when required |
The City e:HEV harnesses any electrical energy through braking and self–charges the Lithium Ion battery pack with no need to manually charge the battery. The Deceleration Paddle Selector lets the driver change the deceleration to 3 levels without stepping on brake pedal while still maintaining good vehicle control and fuel efficiency.
This strong hybrid electric system produces System Combined Max Power of 126 PS, Outstanding Fuel Efficiency of 26.5 km/l and Maximum motor torque of 253Nm @ 0 – 3,000 rpm. An advanced Electric Servo Brake system with all four wheel disc brakes that contribute to fuel efficiency and provide a smooth brake feel have been adopted for the New City e:HEV. With the Electric Servo Brake, Electric Regenerative Braking in New City e:HEV combines with Hydraulic Braking to bring the vehicle to a quick stop, while self-charging the Lithium-Ion battery pack.
With the new City e:HEV, Honda is introducing its advanced intelligent safety technology “Honda SENSING” for the first time in India. The system uses a high-performance front camera with a wide-angle, far-reaching detection system to scan the road ahead and alert the driver to minimize risk of accidents and in some cases intervene to avoid a collision or lessen its severity. Honda Sensing signature safety features include Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control, Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Auto High–Beam.
The New City e:HEV comes equipped with 37 Honda Connect features. In order to enhance Connected car experience, Honda Connect now also works with smart watch devices in addition to already existing integration with Alexa and OK Google. With smartwatch connectivity, the car can be remotely controlled for enhanced convenience and user can always stay up-to-date with important notifications. Thisintegration takes Honda Connect experience to next level of connected mobility.
Commenting on the India unveil of the New City e:HEV, Mr. Takuya Tsumura, President & CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, “It is an exciting moment for us as we begin our new age electrification journey in India with our flagship model, New City e:HEV. The Government of India lays emphasis on Make in India along with addressing the environmental and safety issues associated with mobility. It brings us great joy and satisfaction, to introduce Honda’s innovative product that is aligned with realizing the government vision.”
He further added, “The discerning Indian customer is looking for a car which offers a perfect amalgamation of technology, safety and features. The City e:HEV combines the sustainable power of hybrid technology, along with unmatched safety standards of Honda SENSING and incredible convenience of Honda Connect. This self-charging hybrid electric car will certainly prove to be a game changer and the most practical solution in the current technology transition phase towards an electrified future.”
The City e:HEV exterior features a New Honda Solid Wing Face , signature Blue H-mark logo in front and rear, New Claw-type Fog Light Garnish, an e:HEV emblem on the rear, New Black Painted Diamond-cut Alloy Wheels, New Trunk Lip Spoiler and New Rear Bumper Diffuser with Carbon Finish. The City’s unique full LED Headlamps with 9 Array Inline Shell, Integrated LED DRL, L Shaped LED Turn Signal and Z Shaped 3D wrap around LED Tail lampaccentuates the premium look of the City e:HEV.
The interior of the car packs a plush, premium and spacious cabin with New Luxurious Two-Tone Ivory & Black Interior Colour Theme. An easy to operate Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold that engages parking brake with a single switch, has been adopted for the City e:HEV which eliminates the need for a brake lever and also lets the center console to be utilized more effectively for placing small items pocket tissue, smartphone or a small tablet in the Utility Tray. The new 17.7 cm High Definition Full Colour TFT meter displays multi-information including e:HEV power flow meters, Honda Sensing support and various other alerts and warnings. The interior boasts Contemporary Seats with Premium Leather Upholstery, 20.3 cm Advanced Touchscreen Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity along with One-Touch Electric Sunroof, LED interior room lamps, and soothing Ambient Lighting.
Honda City e:HEV comes fully equipped with advanced safety technologies and features like ACE body structure, Ultra High Tensile Strength Steel Frame with use of Super High Formability 980 MPa grade steel, AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System at low speed EV Mode, 6 Airbags, Honda Lane-Watch, Multi-angle Rear view Camera, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System with Deflation Warning, Vehicle Stability Assist with Agile Handling Assist, Hill Start Assist, ISOFIX compatible Rear Side Seats with Lower Anchorage & Top Tether etc.
In another first for HCIL, the advanced Hybrid Electric New City e:HEV will be manufactured in India at its state of the art manufacturing facility in Tapukara, Rajasthan. The company today commenced pre-bookings of the New City e:HEV at all authorized Honda dealerships across the country with a booking amount of Rs 21,000. Additionally, the customers can also book the car online from the comfort of their homes through ‘Honda from Home’ platform on Honda Cars India website with an amount of Rs 5,000.
The New City e:HEV will offer complete peace of mind with 3-year Unlimited kilometres warranty as standard benefit to the customer. The customers can also opt for Extended Warranty up to 5 years and Anytime Warranty upto 10 years from the date of car purchase. The warranty available on lithium-ion battery will be 8-year or 1,60,000 Km (Whichever comes first) from the date of car purchase.
